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[Buffalo, NY:] 1 March–31 May 1865. 8vo (8.25” x 7”), half black leather and pebbled brown paper over boards. 138 pp. in ink. CONDITION: Very good, extremities rubbed.

A curious journal containing entries dated at 11am and 5pm almost every day and recording a civilian’s perspective on the close of the Civil War, including an account of Lincoln’s lying in state in Buffalo following his assassination. The volume’s obsessive regularity, unusual penmanship and style, and sporadic visual embellishments and illustrations make it a compelling and intriguing vernacular document of Union experience during this tumultuous period.

Rice opens his journal by stating a commitment “to put down…all the principal events of history and most all the battles etc. commensing the 1st of March 1865 (today).” Accordingly, each entry notes military events, either from previous years or currently unfolding in the papers. The most significant events detailed are Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox (“HURRAH FOR GRANT Good night good night”) and, just a few entries later, Lincoln’s assassination. Having eagerly noted on March 3rd that “Lincoln is to be inaugurated tomorrow for 4 more years,” the President’s death, news of which arrived early on April 16th, contrasts sharply with the fine weather and is recorded in graphic detail:

11 oclock A.M. The weather is very pleasant. President Lincoln was assassinated in the thearetere in Washington last evening about 10 oclock. He was shot through the head the ball stoping in his brain. He expired at 22 minutes past 7 oclock this morning. His murderer is J. Wilkes Booth, an acter. The assassin got out & left on a horse & it is reported that he is arrested. William H. Seward was stabbed 3 times also at about 10 oclock, also his son Fredrick had his skull broken & is insensible also one of Sewards attendents was stabed & 3 officers.

5 oclock P.M. The weather is very pleasant this afternoon but Abraham Lincoln is no more on earth. He was killed last evening by a beastly devlish assassin. & Vice President Johnson was sworn in president at 11 o clock A.M. this morning, by Chief Justice Chase…Johnson said the duties are mine, I will perform them, trusting in God…

The Buffalo funerary processions, the first of which took place the same day as Lincoln’s Washington D.C. funeral, on April 19th, and the second of which, on April 27th, accompanied Lincoln’s body, which was brought by train and lay in state at Saint James Hall, are minutely recorded. Rice judged the first procession to be “probably the bigest procession that has been gotten up in Buffalo for 20 or 30 years.” After scrupulously detailing the second procession’s participants and arrangement and recording that “crowds are thronging in to see the face of A Lincoln. Ladies go inn to the hall inn single file men & boys 4 deep, or 4 in a row,” Rice also notes: “Ma & me went down to St James Hall to see the remains of Lincoln.”

Other contemporary events recorded in the journal include the Battle of Waynesboro, news of which unfolds over the course of several days; a large exchange of “sick & wounded Union prisoners” in Richmond; the arrival of “about 300 prisoners…at the White House, together with some 3000 Negroes who followed the troops as they passed through the country”; and the capture and execution of “Sue Mundy” (Confederate captain and guerilla Marcellus Jerome Clarke, a likely model for George D. Prentice’s fictional character Mundy, was indeed hung in March 1865). Rice, not distinguishing Clarke from the fictional character he inspired, writes: “So go the Gorillas. They all ought to be shot just as fast as they are cought.” The hunt for Jefferson Davis is also closely followed, and Davis’s eventual capture in women’s clothing, which is repeatedly noted with glee, even merits a small drawing.

15 May: Jeff will be placed on trial immediately on his arriving at Washington. The air is warm & very fragrant on acount of the flowers—& the sun is shining brightly & the clouds are tinged with orange & blue (pale). The news of the capture of Davis is almost as good as it was at the fall of Richmond. Vixburg & Peterburg &c also the Battles Antietam Gettysburg Wilderness & Winchester &c.

19 May: 11 oclock A.M. The weather is very pleasant this morning & the birds are warbling their daily songs. When Jeff was captured he was in his wifes dress. I did not know before that Jeff (who thinks himself a gentleman) would put on pettycoats petty coat petty coat how are you J. Davis.

In addition to a few further-flung historical milestones and the lyrics of a few army songs, Rice also notes numerous Civil War anniversaries, including those of the Battle of the Merrimac and Monitor (1862), the course of which is vividly narrated in the present tense; the evacuation of Manassas (1862); the capture of Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida (1862); and the Battle of Salem (1862).

Interspersed with Rice’s discussions of the war are notable local events, including a flood (“The New York Central Rail Road Bridge at Rochester was carried off about 1 oclock Friday night. At 3 oclock today this P.M. the long bridge on the Genesee Valley Road was swept off & part of it lodged against the aqueduct (which is over flown)…the dam at Mount Morris is also gone…”); scheduled lectures by Wendell Phillips and Artemus Ward (i.e., Charles Farrar Browne); the arrival of a steam fire engine, the Thos B. French, from Seneca, and the paving of roads; updates on the progress of spring (with mud and standing water “more than 1 foot deep, as could be expected, the sewars caved in again,” but also “the start of “kite season,” the appearance of maple sugar “in market in small quantities,” the activity of birds, and so on); a few descriptions of Rice’s daily life (“I read a few books this afternoon talked about Sherman & co. Then I went out doors. Got my feet wet come in the house. Got them dry then went out doors to Barkers then come home and read the news”); addresses to “Mr Sun,” “Mr Rain” and other natural personages; the going price of gold; and various “conundrums,” including “When is a sailor not a sailor. When his a bord” and “Why is a beehive like a spectator Because it is a bee-holder.”

The last pages of the journal note the mustering out of local troops, observations of summer and reflections on “the changes of the last few months, the capture of Augusta, the burning of Columbia by Sherman, the capture of Richmond & Petersburg, & the terrible assassination of Lincoln, the last of the assassin &c &c &c,” and a decided decrease in “war news”: “Thair is no war news of importance this evening & thair probably will not be any more for 40 years & meaby 300 years unless it comes from Mexico.” The volume’s rear endpapers bear various doodles, including another dress-clad “Jeff,” a portrait of “Mrs. Jeff,” a sketch of “Irion Sides,” and “Our Independent Gen Grant.”

Rice’s meticulous attention to war news (as well as to the papers themselves, in his observation that “extra newspapers are issued now most every Sunday on account of the great of news wanted by Union people”), combined with his child-like remarks to “Mr Rain” “Mr Snow,” “Mr Weather” and so on, regular transcriptions of riddles, rhymes, and songs (“Living on corn, living on bread, how are you Jeff with a guilty head,” and, attributed to the poet John Godfrey Saxe, “Beau & Lee / Went out, you see / To do a bit of slaughter; / Beau fell down & broke his crown, / & Lee came tumbling after!”), and occasionally sing-song style (“I did not know before that Jeff…would put on pettycoats petty coat petty coat”) render the diary an unusual and rich reflection of everyday Union experience and sentiment as the Civil War drew to a close.

REPRESENTATIVE PASSAGES:

2 March: Gen Lander died March 2d in the year of 1862 I have been playing checqures frm the Buffalo Morning Express. One Southern paper says that Sherman is just where they want him. Then both sides are suited. Charlston was ever a fast city, but justice has proved faster than she. It has overtaken her. Of course there will now be a Yankee paper in Charlston. [P]ut us down as a subscriber.…5 oclock P.M.…the world has the following additional particular concerning the reported burning of Columbia: when the Arago appeared off Charlston bar a dispatch boat met her with important news, which, if true, illustrates unparalleled Rebel treachery. The officers who brought the intelligence stated that soon after a corps of Sherman’s troops had captured Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, the rebel citizens there endeavored in every possible manner to harrass our troops.…while the latter corps was quitely marching through, the principal streets to temporary barracks, a number of citizens (I should call them dogs) poured a deadly fire upon them from the windows & roofs of the houses they occupied. Insurrection was beginning to spread when our troops retired a short distance and subsequently fired the city, which is now in ashes…

3 March: A naval expedition of considerable magnitude is said to be fittine out at Cairo. Gov Cannon of Delewar expired on the 1st at Philadelphia, after a short illness. Southern News. Gen Joe Johnston assumed command of the forces in the frontx and rearx of Sherman on the 23rd inst Gen Lee will remain at Richmond & direct movements from that point, as well as handle his own army for the defence of Richmond.…Lincoln is to be inaugurated tomorrow for 4 more years.

10 March: 5 P.M.…Gen Early was found near Waynesboro, on a range of hills with 5 pieces of artillery in position. Gen. Custer dismounted 2 regiments as skirmishers. In the rear on either side of the road were 2 solid regiments. The movement upon the enemy works was made at once. The rebels fired one volley & then fled like a flock of sheep. Their attempt to escape was fruitless, as Gen Custer had closed his line upon them & surrounded nearly the entire force. Gen Early did not attempt to rally his men, but rode off on a fleet horse attended by an orderly. The victory was almost a bloodless 1…

14 March: 5 oclock weather is about the same as usual I wonder what news from Sherman. A new gun boat is going to be built at Tonawanda, by Mr Thos Stalk of Brooklyn for the U.S. government. Col A.R. Root, 94th N.Y. Vol. has been confirmed as Brevet. Brig. Gen. which makes the 3rd Brig. Gens going from this city. Namely D.D. Bidwell, George M Love, & A.R. Root. Wendell Phillips is going to lecture next Wednesday 22d.”

16 March: Further from Sherman Shermans army is in excellent health & condition. They have lived quite as sumptuously as on the Georgia march one ration of coffee & sugar everything else is furnished by the foraging parties. From Sheridan Gen Sheridan has blown up the aqueduct bringing water to Richmond & will take at least 2 months to repair the damage…No water for Richmond Phil.

21 March: Ma got me a book or rather a map giving the names of most all of the battles & skirmishes from the Bombartment of Ft Sumpter. Principle events for March 21st. March 21st 1862 Beaufort was taken by our forces. March 21st 1778. Benjamin Franklin was received in Paris France. The draft took place in the 4th ward this morning at 10 oclock. Kingston has surrendered to Sherman. 5 oclock P.M. the weather is about the same. Very pleasant. From Sheridan thes teamer Europa has arrived at Washington, bringing Maj. H.B. Compton, bearer of dispatches from Maj. Gen. Sheridan. He also brought with him 17 rebel battle flags captured by Sheridan during his raid, 7 of which he captured himself from Earlys headquarters. Sheridan was at White House on the Pamunkey River on Sunday, but was commensing to move towards the River James where he has probably by this time arrived by this time. The Heralds 6th Corps correspondent of the 18th gives a report brought by deserteres that a force of Union cavalry had occupied Burksville Junction, & the Richmond, Danville, & Lynchburg Rail Road. Gold is rapidly falling.

1 April: 11 o clock A.M.  The weather is very unpleasant this morning & cold…to day is April Fool Day but the right name is All’s Fool Day. Willie, Lubin & me & to tell the truth Wilder were saying—O look at that spider—your coat is tore & so we was saying April Fool when Spencer made us stop. April fool stop.

10 April: 11 oclock A.M. I must say this morning it rains in torents coming down window pane lik so many horses. Go it Mr Rain go it Mr Rain for we have good news that you can hear if you want to do so. It is this. Lee has surrendered his whole army to Gen Grant without no fighting. His army was paroled on the condition not to fight against the U.S. untill exchanged, which will not be for a while.…Thair is to be a procession formed and it wil march through the principal streets. A new steam fire engine arrived in this city from Senica Falls on Saturday. Its name is Thos. B. French. It is to belong to the city.

11 April: 11 oclock A.M. The weather is very pleasant this morning. The procession line was as follows yesterday Union Cornet Band, Rescue Hook & Ladder Co No. 1, Taylor Hose Co No 1, Eagle Hose Co No 2, Neptune Hose Co No 5, Niagara Hose Co No 7 Columbia Hose Co No 11, Citizens Hook & Ladder Co No 2, Steamers Thos B. French, Eagle, Niagara, Senica, Huron, and Perry…The N.Y. Herald published a list of gen officers surrendered by Lee it comprises the Gen in Chief, 3 Lieut Gens, 17 Maj. Gens, & 21 Brigadier Gens. The number of men actually surrendered by Lee is from 20,000 to 22,000. HURRAH FOR GRANT Good night good night.

13 April: Thair are 2 prominent gentlemen in the skyes now namely Mr Sun who comes out of his house inn the noon & afternoon & Mr Serious who comes out in the evening, also thair is a Miss Moon who comes out in evening. 5 P.M. Sherman has notified the army commands to be prepaired for rapid marches, so that speedy results may be expected.—Newbern Dispatch April 8th. The Times City Point Special Says: Gen Lee has expressed a desire to depart for Europe with the rest of his family at an early day. He is much affected by his defeat.

17 April: 11 oclock A.M. The weather is very unpleasant this morning the assassins are not yet taken every body is mad as —— & could tear Booth & Surrat into mincemeat if they could get them the mean cowardly devils & assassins I would like to hang every one of them if thair is over 20 of them on a 1000 foot gallows if thair could be made such & shot after they are hung the South have killed their best friend, & now will have a tiger to deal with in comparison to Lincoln.

4 May: 11 oclock A.M. The weather is not pleasant this morning. Sherman was at Point Lookout yesterday en route to Washington. 7500 Union prisoners were unconditionally released by the rebels on the 28 of April near Jacksonville. I say Mr Davis how are you now Dav[i]s, 5 P.M. The weather is he street will probably be paved by the 1 of June. Our cellar is all mud & chips.

5 May: 11 oclock A.M. the weather is very pleasant this morning & the sun is shining brightly. Thair was a robin on a tree in front of our house this morning and after a while he flew to the ground & got a small bit of straw then he flew over towards Deleware Street with it. Many are the birds nests on Deleware Street & near it. The trees are so large & tall on Deleware near Tracy street thair is a large elm tree whose branches nearly reach across the street (about 29 or 30 feet) and on the branch is a robins nest wheather thair is eggs or birds in it I do not know.

[1]2 May: 11 oclock A.M. Rain rain rain is the weather to day. Mr Weather your company has been quite disagreeable to most persons for a day or so, but I guess when you are quite wet you are welcomed by the flowers. But Mr Weather you spoilt the potato crop last year.

17 May: 11 o clock A.M. the weather is very pleasant this morning but it is pretty hot & the grass is quite wet. The rebel vessel (or ram) Stonewall was in the port of Havana (Cuba) on the 11 of this month. Old Sterling Price of Missouri & Gen Hindman of Arkansas, are both said to be still alive and in Texas. Ha He Hio How are you Jeff.

An eccentric Buffalo diarist’s response to events of the Civil War.

Item #8164

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